Pages

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Artist talk at RLAA

I have been a member of the Rideau Lakes Artists Association for a couple of years; though I rarely am able to make it to their monthly meetings. Whenever I do, however, I'm always impressed with the enthusiasm and vitality of this group of artists. There is a whole gamut of experience from seasoned artists with years of experience as well as new artists who are equally welcomed and encouraged in the group. They hold many workshops for their membership and exhibitions around the Rideau Lakes vicinity. There's always something going on; once a month they hold their membership meetings and after business is finished and refreshments have been served, there is usually a speaker or a demonstration to enjoy for the second part of the meeting. I was invited to be that speaker at the RLAA yesterday.

As it's a vibrant group of artists I wanted to talk about something that every artist can relate to, which is the evolution of an artists style and their career. For me the best way to express the living/changing nature of art was to present a slide show of how my own art has morphed through the years.

Great Grandfather was chief restoration/repairartist for the vast collection at Burghley House

I also included a little ancestral background of artists within my family, which I felt also related to how my art has developed.

Burghley House, near Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK

It's funny, in my life as a student the thing I hated most was standing in front of a group and having to do a speech or a talk. It struck terror into me... but there was none of that yesterday.

The RLAA has a super system for presenting power-point slide shows, and after a few technical difficulties initially setting it up, David Gilmore got it running smoothly for me. I was very grateful to him for that because having it to spur along my discussion points made it way easier and quite natural for me. I was delighted, many folks asked me questions afterwards (a good sign they found it interesting; bored people don't ask, they just want it to be over! ha ha!) It was a really good experience!

Next month, Michelle LaRose is scheduled to speak. I think I will try and make it to that meeting as I'd be interested to hear about her process of creating her contemporary abstracts.

6 comments:

Congratulations on being invited to speak about your art. I loved seeing the photos of the grand house in Lincolnshire. What a great artistic heritage you have Sally you must be very proud of it!I also loved your three little night paintings. I hope you're not missing your family too much. I can only imagine what a thrilling time it is for you at the moment with a new family member in your midst!

Hi Wendy, thanks for your cheerful comment. Yes I am proud of my great grandad and my mother who were both painters, so figured it was worth mentioning them in my talk. That house in Lincolnshire is beautiful, as a child I have visited it a few times, but I would like to go back as an adult and visit it again. I am now back at home after 9 special days with my daughter and new grand daughter. It was such a privilege.

I wish I'd been there. It looks fabulous, and you would never bore me! Good for you. As someone who often gets students to stand at the front and talk, I know the feeling from both sides. But that learned confidence is definitely an asset.

Welcome to my art blog

click on my picture to visit my website!

Gallery at the Porch Door

Thank you to all of the gallery visitors who came out while I operated my porch gallery. Due to our impending move, I have had to close my porch gallery this summer, but my work can be seen at several other galleries listed on my website. Please email me for details, and THANKYOU art lovers! - Sally